Water filtration is an essential element of any irrigation system.
Irrigation systems require filtration to prevent unwanted debris and objects from entering the system where they can cause blockage or damage.
Filters reduce maintenance of a system and also help to extend the life of irrigation equipment.
Sand is the number one culprit in damaging piping and other equipment.
As sand or grit is washed through a system it can cause wear and tear on the parts, reducing the lifetime of the equipment.
Some parts are more prone to the dangers than others.
Automatic valves have narrow channels and chambers that can become damaged by sand and grit in the water.
Even a small grain of sand can disrupt a sprinkler nozzle resulting in uneven watering patterns and dry patches.
Aside from sand there are other contaminants that can disrupt irrigation systems.
Organic materials such as algae can grow inside pipes until they block the flow or a detached piece of growth can block a nozzle, spray, or emitter.
Even if they do not directly block the system organic growths can collect other debris that is flowing through until they become a large enough clump to cause a blockage.
What this means is that your filtration must remove not only debris that is a problem by itself but also the smallest particle that can accumulate additional debris over time to become a problem in your irrigation system.
The level of filtration you require depends to a great extent on the type of irrigation you are using.
The most sensitive irrigation systems are drip irrigation.
Due to the lack of water pressure in the system the emitters can become clogged quite easily and great care must be taken to prevent this.
Filters are graded according to the maximum size of a particle that can still make it through the filter.
This is measured in microns, and one micron is just a thousandth of a millimeter.
The lower the micron number for the filter, the smaller the particles are that can make it through.
While drip irrigation is the most sensitive, sprinkler systems are sturdier and will survive small sand and grain particles without damage or interference.
Most irrigation systems will require at least 100-micron filtration although some may require even better filters.
To be safe always use the best level of filtration that will still allow normal operation of your system.
The better the filtration you use the less particles there will be to cause wear and tear in the system or to build up into a blockage.
On there other hand, you should avoid the problem of 'over filtering'; very fine filters will stop more debris but sand and grit will build up on the filter much quicker requiring frequent cleaning and flushing.
The more often you flush the system the more water you are wasting and the more time you spend on maintenance.
There are a number of different filtration methods and you will need to select the one that works best for you irrigation system.
Don't neglect this essential equipment! In the long run it will save you both time and effort.
Irrigation systems require filtration to prevent unwanted debris and objects from entering the system where they can cause blockage or damage.
Filters reduce maintenance of a system and also help to extend the life of irrigation equipment.
Sand is the number one culprit in damaging piping and other equipment.
As sand or grit is washed through a system it can cause wear and tear on the parts, reducing the lifetime of the equipment.
Some parts are more prone to the dangers than others.
Automatic valves have narrow channels and chambers that can become damaged by sand and grit in the water.
Even a small grain of sand can disrupt a sprinkler nozzle resulting in uneven watering patterns and dry patches.
Aside from sand there are other contaminants that can disrupt irrigation systems.
Organic materials such as algae can grow inside pipes until they block the flow or a detached piece of growth can block a nozzle, spray, or emitter.
Even if they do not directly block the system organic growths can collect other debris that is flowing through until they become a large enough clump to cause a blockage.
What this means is that your filtration must remove not only debris that is a problem by itself but also the smallest particle that can accumulate additional debris over time to become a problem in your irrigation system.
The level of filtration you require depends to a great extent on the type of irrigation you are using.
The most sensitive irrigation systems are drip irrigation.
Due to the lack of water pressure in the system the emitters can become clogged quite easily and great care must be taken to prevent this.
Filters are graded according to the maximum size of a particle that can still make it through the filter.
This is measured in microns, and one micron is just a thousandth of a millimeter.
The lower the micron number for the filter, the smaller the particles are that can make it through.
While drip irrigation is the most sensitive, sprinkler systems are sturdier and will survive small sand and grain particles without damage or interference.
Most irrigation systems will require at least 100-micron filtration although some may require even better filters.
To be safe always use the best level of filtration that will still allow normal operation of your system.
The better the filtration you use the less particles there will be to cause wear and tear in the system or to build up into a blockage.
On there other hand, you should avoid the problem of 'over filtering'; very fine filters will stop more debris but sand and grit will build up on the filter much quicker requiring frequent cleaning and flushing.
The more often you flush the system the more water you are wasting and the more time you spend on maintenance.
There are a number of different filtration methods and you will need to select the one that works best for you irrigation system.
Don't neglect this essential equipment! In the long run it will save you both time and effort.
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